O/O's - what's the toughest part of running your biz?

[Derek]

doing the work or finding the work?

or something else?


for me it is finding the work.

i don't pay for advertising (except Servicemagic, which isn't much).

when a prospect or client actually calls me to schedule something before i call them, i'm giddy.

 

[renegade_cowboy]

If your biggest problem in your business is finding work, then why aren't you advertising?

You should create a marketing plan to help you with your problem.

 

[Art Kelley]

The toughest part is when you one day realize this won't go on forever. There's nothing better in life than controlling your own destiny and doing something you love. All right, there's a few things better, but they don't pay the bills.

 

[Marc Imbesi]

...toughest part, to date....STAYING MOTIVATED!!!

 

[Derek]

i do advertise, i just don't pay for it. i knock on doors then make follow-up sales calls on the tele to acquire most all my clients. wouldn't work as well if i was mostly residential i realize.

or would it :shock:

 

[Steve Toburen]

doing the work or finding the work?

or something else?

Finding the balance between the two. For many O/O's it is "feast or famine". They are either running to get the work on the books done (which means sales/marketing gets neglected) or they are desperately scrambling to fill their schedule again.

Steve Toburen
www.SFS.JonDon.com

PS Oh well, it beats punching a clock for a living. Seriously ...

 

[Dolly Llama]

or something else?

Steve stole my thunder somewhat.

the "something else" is smoothing out the peaks and valleys .
Which means mostly having the disciple to not blow your whole wad during peak times eating steak everyday ....so you're able to have a little meAt with your beans 'N rice during the valley lows


..L.T.A.

 

[RGH269]

Finding the balance between the two. For many O/O's it is "feast or famine". They are either running to get the work on the books done (which means sales/marketing gets neglected) or they are desperately scrambling to fill their schedule again.

Steve Toburen
http://www.SFS.JonDon.com

PS Oh well, it beats punching a clock for a living. Seriously ...[/quote]



That is pretty much me in a nutshell. I was planning on a SFS class in 2012 till the hearing issue I spoke of in another thread. I'll see how that turns out first.

 

[tmdry]

Keep in mind that Derek does mostly if not all commercial work. So he does not need to pay for advertising like most companies who gets the majority of their work from residential.

 

[Able 1]

Keep in mind that Derek does mostly if not all commercial work. So he does not need to pay for advertising like most companies who gets the majority of their work from residential.

Then who does have to pay? :mrgreen:

 

[ACE]

...toughest part, to date....STAYING MOTIVATED!!!

Sooo True

 

[juniorc82]

The toughest part is when you one day realize this won't go on forever. There's nothing better in life than controlling your own destiny and doing something you love. All right, there's a few things better, but they don't pay the bills.

Art youve been cleaning for longer than I been alive, thats pretty close to forever old chap . I think the hardest part of my business is wearing every hat .

 

[ACE]

The toughest part is when you one day realize this won't go on forever. There's nothing better in life than controlling your own destiny and doing something you love. All right, there's a few things better, but they don't pay the bills.

Telling myself that I’m not going to be a small op carpet jockey forever is reassuring thought.

 

[Steve Toburen]

The toughest part is when you one day realize this won't go on forever. There's nothing better in life than controlling your own destiny and doing something you love. All right, there's a few things better, but they don't pay the bills.

Telling myself that I’m not going to be a small op carpet jockey forever is reassuring thought.

I always say you only have two choices on leaving your business:
a) How and ...
b) When

Steve Toburen
www.SFS.JonDon.com

PS The number one problem I see is carpet cleaners (including owner-operators) waiting too long to start the PROCESS of preparing their business for an eventual sale. Then they get desperate and "desperation" is never a good stance to negotiate from.

 

[Desk Jockey]

...toughest part, to date....STAYING MOTIVATED!!!

I agree, I get distracted easily.

:mrgreen:

 

[Steve Toburen]

...toughest part, to date....STAYING MOTIVATED!!!

I agree, I get distracted easily.

:mrgreen:

Turn off your computer, Richard, and you'll be amazed how fast your ADD will cure itself.

Steve Toburen
http://www.SFS.JonDon.com

PS Uhhhh ... I gotta get back to my ICS article.

 

[Desk Jockey]